World Heritage Identification Number: 1000
World Heritage since: 2001
Category: Natural Heritage
WHE Type: Natural Landscapes & Geographic Features
Transboundary Heritage: No
Endangered Heritage: No
Country: 🇧🇷 Brazil
Continent: Americas
UNESCO World Region: Latin America and the Caribbean
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Fernando de Noronha and Atol das Rocas Reserves: A Marine Biodiversity Haven
The Brazilian Atlantic Islands, consisting of the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago and the Rocas Atoll, are two distinct yet interconnected marine reserves located off the northeastern coast of Brazil. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001, these islands serve as a significant habitat for various marine species and seabirds, making them a crucial component of the South Atlantic's biodiversity.
More to come…UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site
Peaks of the Southern Atlantic submarine ridge form the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago and Rocas Atoll off the coast of Brazil. They represent a large proportion of the island surface of the South Atlantic and their rich waters are extremely important for the breeding and feeding of tuna, shark, turtle and marine mammals. The islands are home to the largest concentration of tropical seabirds in the Western Atlantic. Baia de Golfinhos has an exceptional population of resident dolphin and at low tide the Rocas Atoll provides a spectacular seascape of lagoons and tidal pools teeming with fish.
UNESCO Justification of the World Heritage Site
Criterion (vii): Dolphin Bay is the only known place in the world with such a large population of resident dolphins. In addition, two of its beaches, Praia do Sancho and Praia do Leão, were elected as the most beautiful in Brazil. The Rocas Atoll has a spectacular seascape, especially at low tide when the exposed reef surrounding shallow lagoons and tidal pools forms a natural aquarium. Both sites also have exceptional underwater landscapes that have been recognised worldwide in specialized diving literature.
Criterion (ix): The Fernando de Noronha and Atol das Rocas represents over half the insular coastal waters of the Southern Atlantic Ocean. These highly productive waters provide feeding ground for species such as tuna, billfish, cetaceans, sharks and marine turtles as they migrate to the African coast. An oasis of marine life in relatively barren, open ocean, the islands play a key role in the process of reproduction, dispersal and colonization by marine organisms in the entire Tropical South Atlantic.
Criterion (x): The Fernando de Noronha and Rocas Atoll are key sites for the protection of biodiversity and endangered species in the Southern Atlantic. Providing a large proportion of the insular habitat of the South Atlantic, the site is essential for the maintenance of marine biodiversity. It is important for the conservation of threatened species of marine turtles, particularly the hawksbill turtle. The site accommodates the largest concentration of tropical seabirds to be found in the Western Atlantic Ocean and is a Global Centre of Bird Endemism. The site also contains the only remaining sample of the Insular Atlantic Forest and the only oceanic mangrove in the South Atlantic region.
Encyclopedia Record: Fernando de Noronha
Fernando de Noronha, officially the State District of Fernando de Noronha and formerly known as the Federal Territory of Fernando de Noronha until 1988, is an archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, part of the state of Pernambuco, Brazil, and located 191 nautical miles off the Brazilian coast.Additional Site Details
Area: 43,270 hectares
Number of Components: 2
(ix) — Outstanding example representing ecological and biological processes
(x) — Contains most important habitats for biodiversity
Coordinates: -3.857944444 , -32.42511111
IUCN World Heritage Outlook
The 2025 Conservation Outlook on Brazilian Atlantic Islands: Fernando de Noronha and Atol das Rocas Reserves reports the following assessment:
Source: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) · View assessment
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© Fernandoantoniofotos, CC BY-SA 4.0 Resized from original. (This derivative is under the same CC BY-SA license.)
World Heritage Research
Discover scientific research and academic studies that deepen our understanding of Brazilian Atlantic Islands: Fernando de Noronha and Atol das Rocas Reserves from its history and significance to its conservation, management, and contemporary challenges.
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Analysis of Tourism Sustainability in the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, Brazil
Tourism sustainability in the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, Brazil, is found to be a mixed scenario—ranging from sustainable to unsustainable practices—with critical vulnerabilities tied to rising population and high tourist inflows. This assessment, derived from the Tourism Sustainable Indicators System (TSIS), highlights the archipelago's delicate balance between environmental protection and tourism growth, particularly concerning its sensitive ecosystems and rich biodiversity. The study emphasizes the need for robust resource management in the two protected areas of Noronha to mitigate negative impacts. Conducted through semi-structured surveys, interviews with public authorities, civil society, and private sector agents, the research provides a nuanced understanding of the archipelago's sustainability dimensions—environmental, cultural, social, economic, touristic, and institutional. Its findings carry both local and global significance, offering insights for sustainable planning in isolated island contexts like Noronha.
Pereira, A. I. d. A., Silva, F. J. d. L., Cândido, G. A., & Oliveira, J. E. L. (2024). Analysis of Tourism Sustainability in the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, Brazil. Revista de Gestão Social E Ambiental, 18(4), e04622. https://doi.org/10.24857/rgsa.v18n4-005
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Sponge Communities of Submarine Caves and Tunnels on the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, Northeast Brazil
A recent study significantly expands the known diversity of sponge species in submarine caves and tunnels within the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Fernando de Noronha, Brazil. Researchers documented 69 sponge species, doubling the previously recorded number (29) for these cryptic environments. The study highlights distinct community structures across cave zones: semi-dark areas are rich in Demospongiae, Homoscleromorpha, and Calcarea, while transition zones feature desma-bearing sponges and thinly encrusting spirastrellids. Notably, the darkest zone in Ilha do Meio Cave was nearly azoic, containing only three species. The research involved scuba diving explorations at depths of 5 to 18 meters across three cavities—Sapata Cave, Ilha do Meio Cave, and Pedras Secas Tunnel—revealing the unique biodiversity and ecological dynamics of these underwater habitats in the Southwestern Atlantic.
Muricy, G., Lage, A., Sandes, J., Klautau, M., Pinheiro, U., Laport, M. S., de Oliveira, B. F. R., Pequeno, C. B., & Lopes, M. V. (2024). Sponge Communities of Submarine Caves and Tunnels on the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, Northeast Brazil. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 12(4), 657. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse12040657
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Wave-induced sediment and rhodolith mobility on a narrow insular shelf dominated by wave variability (Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, Brazil)
A seasonal wave regime significantly influences sediment and rhodolith mobility on the narrow insular shelf of Fernando de Noronha, Brazil. The study reveals that summer swell waves from the north increase sediment movement along the northern coast, while winter trade wind waves from the southeast and southern swells affect the southern face. Wave-induced sediment mobility occurs across the entire shelf, up to 60 meters deep near the shelf break, with carbonate bioclastic sediments being remobilized intensely in nearshore zones. Rhodolith movement, less dense but larger than sediments, happens under extreme wave conditions up to 30 meters depth, varying seasonally based on predominant wave direction. This research combines numerical modeling and empirical equations to describe spatial fields of sediment and rhodolith mobility, providing insights into the interaction between wave climate variability and shelf morphology.
Ambrosio, B. G., Takase, L. S., Stein, L. P., Costa, M. B., & Siegle, E. (2022). Wave-induced sediment and rhodolith mobility on a narrow insular shelf dominated by wave variability (Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, Brazil). Continental Shelf Research, 235, 104662. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csr.2022.104662
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Insect (Hexapoda) Diversity in the Oceanic Archipelago of Fernando de Noronha, Brazil: Scenopinidae (Diptera)
A rare discovery of window flies (Scenopinidae) in the remote Brazilian archipelago of Fernando de Noronha extends known insect distributions, linking the island's fauna to mainland Brazil. The study documents only 16 specimens—three males and 13 females—of Scenopinus schulzi, highlighting its low abundance. Researchers suggest this species likely colonized the islands from the continent, challenging assumptions about oceanic archipelago isolation. By analyzing these findings, the study contributes to understanding insect dispersal in isolated ecosystems, offering insights into biodiversity patterns in UNESCO-listed marine reserves.
Rafael, J. A., Ale-Rocha, R., & Limeira-de-Oliveira, F. (2022). Insect (Hexapoda) Diversity in the Oceanic Archipelago of Fernando de Noronha, Brazil: Scenopinidae (Diptera). Biota Neotropica, 22(2). https://doi.org/10.1590/1676-0611-bn-2021-1282
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The sweat bees from Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, Brazil (Hymenoptera: Halictidae)
A new species of sweat bee, Augochlora (Augochlora) sp., has been recorded from the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, a UNESCO World Heritage Site off Brazil's coast. This discovery adds to the known biodiversity of the region and contributes to our understanding of its unique ecosystems. The study also includes redescriptions of two previously documented species, Augochlora (Augochlora) laevipyga and Lasioglossum (Dialictus) atripyga, with the first illustration of male terminalia for the Kirby species. Researchers used recently collected specimens to characterize these bees, providing valuable insights into their morphology and taxonomy.
Mahlmann, T., Limeira-de-Oliveira, F., & Rafael, J. A. (2022). The sweat bees from Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, Brazil (Hymenoptera: Halictidae). Biota Neotropica, 22(3). https://doi.org/10.1590/1676-0611-bn-2022-1353
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A new species of pincer wasps of Deinodryinus Perkins (Hymenoptera, Dryinidae) from oceanic archipelago of Fernando de Noronha, Brazil
Researchers have identified and described a new species of pincer wasps, Deinodryinus noronhensis, from the oceanic archipelago of Fernando de Noronha in Brazil. This marks the first record of the genus Deinodryinus Perkins in the region. The study includes an illustration of the new species and updates a key for identification. Additionally, it discusses the significance of this discovery within the northeastern Brazilian context. The research contributes to our understanding of biodiversity in UNESCO World Heritage Sites, particularly in isolated oceanic environments.
Martins, A. L. (2022). A new species of pincer wasps of Deinodryinus Perkins (Hymenoptera, Dryinidae) from oceanic archipelago of Fernando de Noronha, Brazil. Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia, 62, e202262044. https://doi.org/10.11606/1807-0205/2022.62.044
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Plasma Calcium and Phosphorus Levels in Chelonia mydas Juveniles Obtained from Three Feeding Areas on the Brazilian Coast
Plasma phosphorus levels in juvenile green turtles (Chelonia mydas) decrease significantly with distance from coastal regions, suggesting these levels could serve as a reliable indicator of environmental quality in feeding sites along the Brazilian coast. The study, conducted between 2012 and 2014, analyzed plasma calcium and phosphorus concentrations in 123 turtles from three distinct feeding areas: Vitória Bay (ES), Abrolhos Marine National Park (BA), and Atol das Rocas Biological Reserve (RN). These sites exhibit varying degrees of anthropization. Findings indicate that phosphorus levels drop as the distance from coastal regions increases, highlighting the potential impact of human activities on marine ecosystems and turtle health. The research recommends further studies to correlate food component phosphorus levels with plasma concentrations to strengthen this environmental quality indicator.
Nóbrega, Y. C., Nossa, D. N., Menezes, P. Q. d., Silva, B. N. M., Dias, G. G., Alvarenga, F. P., Miguel, C., & Santos, M. R. d. D. (2022). PLASMA CALCIUM AND PHOSPHORUS LEVELS IN Chelonia mydas JUVENILES OBTAINED FROM THREE FEEDING AREAS ON THE BRAZILIAN COAST. Science and Animal Health, 10, 63–73. https://doi.org/10.15210/sah.v10i1.22817
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